Learning How to Make Iced Coffee is super simple and will leave you with a refreshing caffeinated beverage for those hot summer days. Plus, you’ll be saving money by making your very own iced coffee right at home.
Delicious And Quick Iced Coffee
Refreshing iced coffee is our favorite way to get our caffeine fix as we head into the warmer months. This no fuss recipe doesn’t require any fancy equipment or tools. All you’ll need is your trusty coffee maker or french press, ice, and add-ins of your choice. You can make this recipe in single servings, or whip up a whole batch to have on hand when needed.
Difference Between Iced Coffee And Cold Brew
Iced coffee is made by brewing regular coffee with hot water, letting it cool, and serving it over ice. The cold brew method requires coffee grounds to steep in cold water for two days in the refrigerator, and then straining the coffee grounds, resulting in a cold brew coffee.
What You Will Need
- coffee – Brew up your favorite variety and place it in the refrigerator to cool.
- ice cubes – Just a handful to chill the coffee.
- simple syrup – Just a bit to add a hint of sweetness.
- creamer – Flavored or unflavored, any variety will work just as it would in a hot cup of coffee.
How To Make Iced Coffee
While your coffee is brewing, gather the rest of your ingredients.
Feel free to make a batch of coffee and store the leftover coffee in a pitcher or mason jar in the fridge for easy access during the week.
Next, add a handful of ice cubes to a glass and pour your cold coffee over the top.
Recipe Tip:
Fill up ice cube trays with coffee and freeze a batch of coffee ice cubes to use in place of regular ice cubes. This way you get the same chill with extra coffee flavor.
Iced Coffee Add-Ins
Have fun experimenting with flavors and sweetness level by adding in the creamer and/or sweetener of your choice. Here are a few ideas of how to make your perfect iced coffee with a plethora of creamer and flavoring options.
- coconut milk – A great dairy-free option with a mild coconut flavor.
- oat milk – Its creamy texture and mild oatmeal flavor will add a rich, smooth flavor.
- cold milk – Just a splash of milk will go a long way to cut any bitter flavors.
- whole milk – a fattier and creamier option
- vanilla extract – Add just a drop at a time until you’ve reached the perfect flavor combination.
- maple syrup – Just a bit will go a long way to add natural sweetness throughout.
- ice cream – You’re adult, but that doesn’t mean that you always have to act like one.
If you’re going for the full coffee house vibe, serve your iced coffee with our yummy gluten free coffee cake, dairy-free seven layer bars, or some classic banana bread.
Recipe FAQs
- large batch – We love to make a big batch of coffee to be stored in the fridge so that we have chilled coffee at the ready for the next couple of days. Cooling coffee down with ice cubes works, but the ice cubes quickly melt, leaving you with watery tasting coffee.
- coffee ice cubes – If you’re really planning ahead, make coffee ice cubes to use in your iced coffee so that your iced coffee doesn’t get watered down.
- cold brew vs. iced coffee – Cold brew is made by steeping coffee grounds in water in the refrigerator for two days and then draining the coffee grounds, leaving you with cold brew. Iced coffee is made by making a batch of hot coffee, cooling it down, and serving it over ice.
Made this recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
Don’t forget to check out my Instagram account for some behind-the-scenes action! Or give me a follow on Facebook or see what I am pinning on Pinterest!
Other Recipes You Might Like
How to Make Iced Coffee
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Coffee
- Method: Refrigerator
- Cuisine: American
Description
How to Make Iced Coffee – learn how to make iced coffee for a perfect hot weather treat! Make a big or small batch!
Ingredients
- 1 cup coffee, refrigerated/cooled
- handful of ice cubes
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup, more as desired
- 1–2 tablespoons creamer of your choice, more as desired (regular or dairy-free)
Instructions
- Brew your favorite cup of coffee (or make a big batch an store it in a pitcher or other container in the refrigerator for later use) until fully cooled.
- Add ice cubes to a tall glass and pour coffee over top.
- Add simply syrup and the creamer of your choice.
- Stir to combine and taste – add additional simple syrup or creamer, as desired (everyone has their own preference when it comes to their sugar/creamer).
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Big Batch Iced Coffee: I recommend making a bigger batch of coffee and storing it in a pitcher or other container so you can easily make your favorite iced coffee for a couple days without having to cool your coffee first. You can cool your hot coffee with ice immediately, but it will get pretty watery as the hot coffee will melt the ice cubes immediately.
- Coffee Ice Cubes: you can also use coffee to make ice cubes and use those in this recipe so your coffee doesn’t get watery at all.
- Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee: cold brew is brewed in the refrigerator (see tutorial here) while iced coffee is brewed with hot water, but then cooled off in the refrigerator or over ice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 17
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 16 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Leave a Rating & Comment